Manufacture of starch



R. F. SHERMAN March 1933- MANUFACTURE OF STARCH 7 Original Filed 550.'22", 1923 Reissued Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES p Re.

ROBERT F. SHERMAN, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CORN PERODUCTSREFINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JEFSEYMANUFACTURE OF STARCH Original No. 1,554,301, dated September 22, 1925,Serial No. 682,516, filed December 24, 1923. Application for reissuefiled September 30, 1932. Serial No. 635,639.

My invention relates to the manufacture of starch from corn, and one ofthe principal objects of the invention is to increase the amount ofsoluble substances in the corn recovered during the process ofmanufacturing and refining the starch by subjecting the soluble bearingmaterial to certain operations to be hereinafter described.

A further object is to utilize the fresh water introduced into theprocess in a manner to be most efl'ective' for producing a thorough andcomplete separation of the starch from the other ingredients of thecorn.

A further object is to eliminate, partially or wholly, the necessity ofre-tabling the starch, by removing the residual solubles contained inthe grain after steeping before the starch is tabled. The re-tablingoperation is performed primarily for the' purpose of removin solubles.It is an expensive operation, t e cost of labor, apparatus and upkeep ofapparatus being relatively high. Moreover, the solubles eliminated bytabling are lost as the wash liquor contains so small a percentage ofthese substances in proportion -moved during certain operationspreceding tabling and in such manner as makes their recovery feasible.

A further object is to remove the major part of solubles in starchprevious to tabling so that if the starch is subsequently flushed fromtables and filtered the filtered starch will be freer from solubles thanat present, and if in addition this starch is'washed while filtering, astarch is obtained having a much less soluble content than at present.

The annexed drawing shows diagrammatically an apparatus suitable forcarrying out the process of this invention. Diagrammatic representationof this apparatus is suflicient as the various instrumentalities are allof familiar construction. In practice, for example, each unit shownsingly in the drawing will ordinarily consist of a number of likeinstrumentalities arranged in series or in parallel such as tanks,mills, separators, or

other devices as the case may be.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the steep tank in which the wholegrain is steeped in the usual manner. Acidified water is supplied to thetank through pipe 1 and the steep liquor is drawn off through pipe 2. Bis a mill for cracking the steeped grain, the grain being moved to themill by conveyor 3, and C is a germ separator to which the crackedmaterial is delivered by conveyor 4 from which the germs are floated offand in which the cracked corn settles. The germs pass by a conveyor 5 toa reel or other separating device D, the starch liquor from which isreturned to the germ separator through pipe 6, according to the usualpractice. The germs from the reel D are then discharged into one or morereels, for example, reels E and F in succession and from reel F to amoisture exeller and then to a germ drier, as customary.

he reel .F receives fresh water or other suitable washing liquid throughpipe 7 which washes the germs therein and which then passes to reel E bypipe 8, thus constituting a counter-current washing system. From reel Ethe light starch liquor passes by pipe 9 to reel K hereinafterdescribed. The starch liquor and cracked corn delivered from theseparator C through pipe 10 are subjected to a reeling orother'separating treatment to remove the starch liquor containing loosestarch particles from the cracked corn. This may be done by passing thematerial through a coarse mesh reel G and the starch liquor from Gthrough a fine mesh reel H, the starch liquor passing from reel G toreel H-by pipe 11. The tailings from these reels will contain a certainquantity of soluble substances which areremoved therefrom as hereinafterfrom reel H instead of being sent directly to the starch tables, inaccordance with former practice, is subjected to a separating operationfor removing from the starch the bulk of the water and therewith'most ofthe solubles. For example, the surplus starch liquor not returned-to thegerm separator may be run through'pipc 12 and filter pressed in thepress L, which may be of any desired type. i The starch from the press,which is in a solid state but moist, isthen diluted and run through pipe13 to the starch tables (not shown). The starch liguor used for dilutingthe starch from the lter press is a light liquor relatively free fromsolubles, derived from the washing of the tailings in reel T, as will behereinafter described. The filtrate from the press L, which will berelatively high in solubles, is returnedto the steep A through pipe 14.

The tailings from reels G and H pass through pipes 15 to one or morereels or other washing devices. Three of these reels are shown, beingdesignated I, J, and K. The tailings from I go to J and those from J toK. The tailings from K are moved by conveyor 16 to the buhr mill M. ReelK receives light starch liquor from pipe 9 as previously described whichwashes the material therein, the bulk of starch liquor passing throughreel K passes to reel J by pipe 17, however, a portion is returned toreel K through pipe 18 constituting a washing cycle which is desirablein order that material entering reel K may be of proper consistency.This washing operation is repeated in reel J, the bulk of the starchliquor passing to reel I by pipe 19 a part returning to reel J by pipe20. The washing operation is again repeated in reel I the bulk of thestarch liquor, which now contains practically all of the soluble mattercontained in the cracked corn from reels G and H, returns to separator Cby pipe 21, a portion returning to reel I by pipe 22. By this method ofcounter-current washing in reels I, J and K the cracked corn dischargedfrom.

reel K is practically free from solubles. It is important that thespecific gravit of the starch liquor in germ separator C e maintainedwithin narrow limits in order to get a proper separation of the germs.It will be seen that all fresh water (very light starch liquor or starchmilk, so-called, might be used) enters the separator system through pipe7 and passes to separator C from reel I through pipe 21. Since freshwater entering at pipe 7 is the only water entering the separatorsystem, it is obvious that the control of gravity at separator G will becontrolled by the amount of water entering through pipe 7. The amount ofwater which can be used from pipe 7 being limited, it is important thatthis water he used to the best advantage in reels I, J and K.

The material dischar ed from reel K after being ground in mill passesthrough pipe 23 to the first of a series ofcoarse reels, for example, N,O, P and Q, where it is subjected to a wet separation to remove thecoarse bran and fibres from the starch. The tailings from reel Q pass byconveyor 24 to moisture expeller R and therefrom, as customary, to feeddryers (notshown). The material while passing through reels N, O, P andQ is washed by fresh water entering reel Q through pipe 25 then passingin succession to reels P, O and N by pipes 26, 27 and 28,

respectively.- By this means the starch liquor leaving reel N throughpipe 29 contains practically all the starch and fine fibre from thematerial leaving mill M. This constitutes a counter-current washingoperation. Starch liquor from pipe 29 containing the fine fibres isdelivered to the first of a series of fine reels, for example, S, T, Uand V, the tailings from V passing by conveyor 30 to filter press W toremove surplus water and being then delivered, as customary, to feeddriers (not shown). Fresh water enters reel V through pipe 31 and Washesthe fine fibres therein, thence passing to reels U and T in successionby pipes 32 and 33, respectively, constituting a counter-current washingsystem. As hereinabove described, the relatively light starch liquorfrom reel T passes by pipe 34 to breaker X, under filter press L whereit dilutes the starch cake discharged from press L to a specific gravitysuitable for tabling. This starch liquor mixes with the relatively heavystarch liquor discharged by reel S through pipe 35 and the mixture ofthe two constitutes starch liquor going to the tables.

The pipe 12 is provided with a branch pipe 36 for returning part of theliquor from the reels G and H to the germ separator in quantitiesvariable by adjustment of valves 37 and 38.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that shakers or othersuitable separating devices might be used in place of the elements whichhave been referred to as reels. The term conveyor is used in the abovedescription to mean any suitable means for moving the material fromplace to place. It will be understood that the connecting pipes willordinarily be provided with valves to control the flow of liquidtherethrough; also that suitable pumps are employed when necessary. Infact, the instrumentalities described for carrying out the operationsreferred to are not essential parts of my invention which considered asa method is not in any sense limited to the particular devices andapparatus shown and specified.

By subjecting the steeped corn to the treatment described, the yield ofsoluble substances is considerabl increased. A large proportion of thesoluble substances remaining in the corn after the steep Water has beendrained therefrom will be found in the filtrate pressed from the starchliquor in filter press L. These solubles are returned to the steep tankA so that the liquor drained from the steep tank, after each steepingoperation, will have a higher degree of concentration or a larger volumeof liquor can be drawn oif at the same concentration than customaryheretofore, that is to say, a larger percentage of the solubles of thegrain will be eventually saved (by evaporation of the steep liquor, forexample, as is customary) than is the case where fresh water (aeidulatedof course) is used for stee ing, as has been the practice heretofore.urthermore, the separation of water by filter pressL and withdr-awal ofthe same from the system at this point through pipe 14 permits an equaladditional volume of water to be used, per bushel of corn, in thesubseqlulent washing operation taking place in reels O, P, Q, S, T, andV, and hence a more thorough separatlon of the starch from the fibreconstitutents of the grain. The amount of water introduced into theprocess through pipes 25 and 31 will be determined by the specificgravity of the starch liquor going to the tables, which, as a matter ofpractice should not be varied to any considerable extent. As the starchwhich goes to the starch tables is relatively free from solublesubstances it will ordinarily not be necessary, in order to obtain arefined starch from the tables, to re-table or wash on filters asheretofore has been frequently necessary, or if the practice ofre-tabling or washing on filters be continued in connection with theprocess of my invention, a better grade of starch will be obtained thanis possible by present practice.

I claim:

1. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn and making a separation in water of the'starchtherein from the nonstarch constituents, an improvement consisting inwithdrawing from the disintegrated corn subjected to the aforesaidseparation the bulk of the water employed in making such separationtogether with substantially all the residual solubles of the corn insolution therewith, reusing in the process substantially all of thesoluble containing water so withdrawn and recovering the solublestherein.

2. In-the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn and making a separation in water of the starchtherein from the nonstarch constituents, an improvement consisting inwithdrawing from the disintegrating corn when said separation ispartially performed the bulk of the water employed in making saidseparation, together with substantially all the residualsolubles of thecorn in solution therewith,'reusing in the process substantially all ofsaid soluble containing water so withdrawn and recovering the solublestherein, and thereafter adding water to the material to complete saidseparation.

3. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn and making a separation in water of the starchtherein from the nonstarch constituents, an improvement consisting infirst separating from the disintegrated corn under treatment a starchliquor containing the bulk of the water used, residual solubles of thecorn and starch, then filtering .this starch liquor to remove the starchand withdrawing the filtrate, containing subtsantially all the residualsolubles of the corn, from the separating operation.

4. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn and making a separation in water of the starchtherein from the nonstarch constituents, an improvement consisting inremoving from the disintegrated corn when said separation is partiallyperformed, a starch liquor containing the bulk of the water used,residual solubles of the corn and starch, filtering this starch liquorto remove the starch and withdrawing the filtrate with substantially allthe residual solubles of the corn from the separating operation, thenadding water to the remaining unseparated starch bearing materials, andeffecting the separation of the starch therefrom.

5. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisescracking the corn, separating thegerm from the starch bearingconstituent, grinding the latter and separating the bran from thestarch, an improvement consisting in washing the germ and said starchbearing constituent separately, withdrawing from the material thustreated the starch milk resulting from said washings with substantiallyall the residual solubles of the corn therein and filtering this starchliqnor to separate the starch therefrom.

6. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisescracking the corn, separating the germ from the starch bearingconstituent, grinding the latter and separat: ing the bran from thestarch, an improvement consisting in' washing the germ and said starchbearing constituent separately, withdrawing from the material thustreated the starch milk resulting from said washings with substantiallyall the residual solubles of the corn therein and filtering this starchliquor to separate the starch therefrom, and adding water to the ground-starch.bearing material to compensate for the water withdrawn asaforesaid.

7. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn,

then disintegrating it and making a separation in water of the starchtherein from the other constituents thereof, an improvement consistingin removing from the disintegrated corn as a part of said separatingoperation substantially all of the solubles remaining in the corn afterthe steeping operation and recovering said solubles.

8. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, then disintegrating it and making a separation inwater of the starch therein from the other constituents thereof, animprovement consisting in removing from the disintegrated corn subjectedto the aforesaid separa-., tion the bulk of the Water used in saidsepara! tion, with residual solubles of the corn in solution therewith,and for said steeping operation utilizing the water withdrawn from aprevious separating operation as just described.

9. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, then disintegrating it and making a separa tion inwater of the starch therein from the other consituents thereof, animprovement consisting in removing from the material subjected to theaforesaid separation a starch liquor containing the bulk of the waterused in said separation, starch and residual solubles of the corn,filtering this starch liquor to remove the starch therefrom and for saidsteeping operation utilizing the filtrate obtained from a previousseparating operation as just described.

10. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, then disintegrating it and making a separation inwater of the starch therein from the other constituents thereof, animprovement consisting in removing from the disintegrated corn when saidseparation is partially performed the bulk of the. water used withresidual solubles of the corn in solution therewith, and for saidsteepin operation utilizing the liquid withdrawn rom a previousseparating operation, as just described, adding water to the residue ofthe starch bearing material undergoing separation, and completing theseparation of the starch therefrom.

11. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, then disintegrating it and making a separation inwater of the starch therein from the other constituents thereof, animprovement consisting in removing from the disintegrated corn when saidseparation is partially performed a starch liquor containing the bulk ofthe water used, starch and residual solubles of the corn, filtering thestarch liquor to remove the starch therefrom and for said steepingoperation utilizing the filtrate thus obtained from a previousseparating operation as just described, adding water to the residue ofthe starch bearing material, and completing the separation of the starchtherefrom.

12. Improved method of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the grain, cracking the steeped grain, separating the germsfrom the starch bearing material by flotation in starch-liquor, washingthe germs and the starch bearing material separately, filtering thesurplus starch liquor obtained from the germ separator and said washingoperations and utilizing the filtrate thus obtained for the steeping ofsubsequently treated grain.

13; Improved method of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping thegr'a'in, cracking the steeped grain, separating the germsfrom the starch bearing material by flotation in starch liquor, washingthe germs and the starch bearing material separately in a series ofwashing stage in which washing liquid is supplied to the Vmaterial atthe last stage and in which the liquor withdrawn from the several stagesis used in precedent stages, including the germ separation, filteringthe surplus starch liquor from the germ separation and utilizing thefiltrate thus obtained for the steeping of subsequently treated grain.

14. Improved method of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the grain, cracking the steeped grain,separating the germs fromthe starch bearing material by flotation in starch liquor, washmg thegerms and the starch bearing material separately in series of washingstages in which washing liquid is applied to the material at the laststage and in which the liquor withdrawn from the several stages is usedin precedent stages, including the germ separation, and filtering thesurplus starch liquor from germ separation to remove starch therefrom.

15. Improved process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesseparatmg the germs from the starch bearing materlal, grinding thelatter, separating with Water the larger non-starch particles from theground material in a series of successive stages in which washing liquidis supplied to the last stage and in which the liquor withdrawn from theseveral stages is utilized at precedent stages, subjecting the surplusstarch liquor withdrawn from the germ separation to a filter pressingoperation to separate the starch from the liquid and corn solubles, andsubjecting the disintegrated corn to a second separation in water inwhich fresh water is added at the last stage and the liquor withdrawnfrom the several stages is utilized at precedent stages.

16. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn and making a separation in water of the starchtherein from the nonstarch constituents, an improvement consisting inelimmating from the disintegrated corn undergoing separation, while saidseparation pro coeds, substantially all of the residual corn solubleswhich such material contains and recovering said solubles.

17. Improved process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisesdisintegrating the corn, making a separation between the germ and thestarch bearing material, withdrawing the bulk of the water from thestarch bearing material together with substantially all of the residualsolubles of the corn and recovering said solubles, and completing theseparation of the starch from the disintegrated corn by the use ofsuccessive washings in water added to the material to compensate forthat withdrawn.

18. Improved process of manufacturing starch from corn which consists insteeping the corn, disintegrating it, separating the germs, washing thestarch bearing material, returning washings to the germ separator,filtering the surplus starch liquor from the germ separation andremoving the filtrate with substantially all the residual solubles ofthe corn, grinding the starch bearing material, adding fresh water tothe starch bearing material, separating the residual starch from thestarch bearing material and mixing the resultant starch liquor with thestarch from the filtering operation.

19,. Improved process of manufacturing starch from corn which consistsin steeping the corn, disintegrating it, separating the germs, washingthe starch bearing material, returning the resultant starch liquor tothe germ separator, filtering the resultant starch liquor and removingthe filtrate with substantially all the residual solubles of the corn,grinding the starch bearing material, add- 1ng fresh water to the starchbearing material, separating the residual starch from the starch bearingmaterial, mixing the resultant starch liquor with the starch from thefiltering operation, and utilizing the liquid obtained from thefiltering operation for the subsequent steeping of grain.

20. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, disintegrating it, and making a separation in waterof the starch in said disintegrated corn from the other constituentsthereof, an improvement consisting in removing from the materialsubjected to said separating operation the bulk of the water usedtherein with the residual solubles of the corn in solution therewith,and for said steeping operation, utilizing all of the water so withdrawnfrom a previous separating operation, and evaporating the steep liquorto recover the solubles therein.

21. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, disintegrating it and making a separation in water ofthe starch in said disintegrated corn from the other constituentsthereof, an improvement consisting in removing from the materialsubjected to said separating operation, for re-use in the process, thebulk of the vwater used therein with the residual solubles of the cornin solution therewith, and, for said steeping operation, utilizing waterso withdrawn from a previous separating operation, and evaporating thesteep liquor to recover the solubles therein.

22. In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, disintegrating it and making a separation in water-ofthe starch in said disintegrated corn from' "the other constituentsthereof, an imwater used therein withthe residual solubles of the cornin solution therewith, and, for

said steeping operation, utilizing water so withdrawn from a previousseparating operation, evaporating the steep liquor to recover thesolubles therein, and treating the solid material with Water to completesaid separation.

23. In the process of manufacturing'starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, disintegrating it and making a separation in water ofthe starch in said disintegrated corn from the non-starch constituents,an improvement consisting in withdrawin from the material subjected tothe aforesai separation a starch liquor containing the bulk of the wateremployed in making such separation starch and residual solubles of thecorn, filtering starch liquor from this source and reusing the filtrateon subsequently treated corn.

24; In the process of manufacturing starch from corn which comprisessteeping the corn, disintegrating it and making a separation in water ofthe starch in said disintegrated corn from the non-starch constituents,an

improvement consisting in withdrawing from the materialsubjected to theaforesaid separation a starch liquor containing the bulk of the wateremployed in making such separation starch and res1dual solubles of thecorn, eliminating water from starch liquor from this source and reusingsuch water on subsequently treated corn.

ROBERT F. SHERMAN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Reissue No. 18.775 March 28 1933.

ROBERT F. SHERMAN.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 46, claim 2, for "disintegrating" read disintegrated; page 4,line'69, claim 13; for "stage" read stages; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of July, A. D. 1934.

Bryan M. Battey v(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

